Epiphyllum plant named ‘FIRE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Epiphyllum  plant named ‘FIRE’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctively red new phylloclades, turning bright green with maturity. The new variety is an  Epiphyllum , typically produced as an indoor or outdoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Epiphyllum anguligerum.

Variety denomination: ‘FIRE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of chance discovery. The parent is anunpatented, unnamed A Epiphyllum anguligerum. ‘FIRE’ was discovered as anaturally occurring leaf mutation by the inventor in 2017 in De Vries,The Netherlands at a commercial nursery.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘FIRE’ was first performed inDe Vries, The Netherlands, at a commercial laboratory by leaf cuttingsin August of 2017. ‘FIRE’ has since produced several generations and hasshown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘FIRE’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘FIRE’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘FIRE’ as a new and distinct Epiphyllumcultivar:

-   -   1. Red young phylloclade color.    -   2. Distinct narrow young phylloclade.    -   3. Bright green mature phylloclade.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘FIRE’ are similar to the parent in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new variety differfrom the seed parent in the following:

-   -   1. New cultivar produces red new phylloclades, new phylloclades        of the parent are green.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘FIRE’ can be compared to an unnamed, unpatented variety of Epiphyllumoxypetalum found in commercial nurseries. The new variety has somehorticultural similarities to Epiphyllum oxypetalum, however, the newvariety differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new cultivar produces red new phylloclades; young        phylloclades of this comparator are green.    -   2. Plants of the new variety form phylloclades which do not grow        more than approximately 40 cm; phylloclades of this comparator        can grow up to 6 meters.    -   3. Phylloclade margins of the new variety are less crenate and        undulate than phylloclade margins of this comparator.

‘FIRE’ can also be compared to an unnamed, unpatented variety ofEpiphyllum pumilum found in commercial nurseries. The new variety hassome horticultural similarities to Epiphyllum pumilum, however, the newvariety differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new cultivar produces red new phylloclades; young        phylloclades of this comparator are green.    -   2. Plants of the new variety form phylloclades which do not grow        more than approximately 40 cm; phylloclades of this comparator        can grow up to 5 meters.    -   3. Phylloclade margins of the new variety are less undulate than        phylloclade margins of this comparator.    -   4. Phylloclade margins of the new variety are shallowly crenate,        phylloclade margins of this comparator are toothed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of‘FIRE’ grown in a greenhouse in De Vries, The Netherlands. This plant isapproximately 7 months old from a rooted leaf cutting, shown in a 14 cmcontainer. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart, 2015 edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe ‘FIRE’ plants in a commercialgreenhouse in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands during February. Temperaturesranged from 18° C. to 35° C. during the day, and 18° C. to 22° C. duringthe night. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemicaltreatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Epiphyllum hybrid ‘FIRE’.-   Age of the plant described: 7 months in a 14 cm pot.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 7 days at 22° C.-   Time to produce a rooted liner: About 42 days at 22° C.-   Propagation method: Leaf cutting.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Broad obovate phylloclades arching and weeping.-   Container size: 14 cm.-   Height: 58.2 cm to top of foliar plane.-   Plant spread: Average 33.3 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate to rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Main phylloclades grow from the base,    with lateral phylloclades emerging from the mains.-   Phylloclades: On average 11 main phylloclades and 55 lateral    phylloclades.    -   -   Length.—Average 30.3 cm.        -   Width.—flattened and slightly succulent, average diameter at            widest point 2.8 cm, average diameter at narrowest, 0.3 cm.        -   Internode.—Leaf spines occur in clusters, average internode            length between clusters 2.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Linear. Flattened.        -   Margin.—Broadly crenate.        -   Aspect.—Moderately undulate, weeping.        -   Apex.—Irregular broad acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Appearance.—Glossy all surfaces.        -   Angle from center.—Average angle 20°, range between 0° and            45°.        -   Strength.—Sturdy and strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Immature, both sides: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 173A            towards apex, turning 174A slightly lower. When beginning to            mature changes to Yellow-Green 152A. Mature, upper surface:            Near RHS Green 137A, main vein colored Green 143B. Mature,            lower surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A mixed with Green            N137B. Main vein colored Yellow-Green 147B. Color at            internodes: Both sides near RHS Green N137B.-   Root description: Moderately dense, fibrous. White, around RHS 155A.    No additional root structures.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf: Foliage consists of leaf spines, as typical for Epiphyllum.    -   -   Leaf spines.—        -   Arrangement.—Single, arranged in clusters of up to 15 leaf            spines per cluster in young phylloclades, leaf spines            dropped in older phylloclades.        -   Average length.—0.7 cm. Range between 0.3 to 1.1 cm.        -   Average width.—1 mm.        -   Shape.—Filiform.        -   Apex.—Pointed, not sharp.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Straight.        -   Texture of upper surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of under surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance upper surface.—Matte.        -   Appearance under surface.—Matte.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-White 156D.            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-White 156D. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-White 156D. Mature            foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-White 156D.-   Venation: No visible venation.

FLOWER

-   Flowering: Not observed.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: None observed to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures up to at least 40    degrees C. and at least as low as 4° C.-   Drought tolerance: Not observed, expected similar drought tolerance    as typical to species.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests known to Epiphyllum observed to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Epiphyllum plantnamed ‘FIRE’ as herein illustrated and described.